GREENVILLE, S.C. - s4story -- Melissa Whiteford St. Clair is proud to announce the South Carolina Bards Review Team has selected her poem "Pollen Count," for inclusion in the South Carolina Bards Poetry Anthology 2026. St. Clair will read the poem, "Pollen Count" at the South Carolina Bards Poetry Anthology Book Launch event scheduled for Saturday, August 22, 2026, at 7:30 pm (doors open at 7:00 pm), at the Cambria Hotel Mount Pleasant – Charleston, 1472 N Hwy 17, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464. There is a $10.00 per person cover charge for the event.

The poem was inspired by a poetry prompt from the April 2026 NaPoWriMo (National/Global Poetry Writing Month), which was to write about a weather phenomenon or aspect of the season.

The South Carolina Bards Poetry Anthology Book published by Local Gems Press will be for sale at the event or preorder ($20.00) is available through https://www.localgemspoetrypress.com/south-carolina-bards-preorders.html.

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About Melissa Whiteford St. Clair:

Melissa Whiteford St. Clair is a poet and social justice advocate. She is the author of three books of poetry and her poetry has been featured in several anthologies. Her poem "Harriet's Feat to Freedom" was included on the Hilton Head Island Poetry Trail at Mitchelville. She was part of the Piccolo Spoleto Sundown Poetry Series (2025). Connect on social @whitegirladvocacy. For more information, visit http://www.whitegirladvocacy.com.

About Local Gems Press:

Long Island, NY based Local Gems Press provides quality verse written by poets from all walks of life as well as other entertaining, inspirational, and educational writings. To learn more, visit https://www.localgemspoetrypress.com/.